Pawar not to interfere in Ganguly issue

The BCCI president on Monday declined to interfere in the selection process for a possible recall of the left-hander.

Terming the decision to exclude Sourav Ganguly from the ODI squad in Pakistan as "unanimous," BCCI president Sharad Pawar on Monday declined to interfere in the selection process for a possible recall of the left-hander.

"When the selection committee took the decision, they conveyed it to me. It was a unanimous decision.... I don't want to interfere in the selection process," Pawar told reporters here.

Stating that the selection committee wanted to keep the winning combination of the ODI squad in tact after India's impressive performances against Sri Lanka and South Africa, Pawar said it had nothing to do with any personal equation between Ganguly and others.

"We respect our coach (Greg Chappell), our selection committee and captain (Rahul Dravid). I have discussed the matter with Sourav, Chappell and others. There is nothing personal in it," he said when asked if Ganguly's spat with the coach had cost him a place in the national squad.

Pawar described Ganguly's 34-run knock in the ongoing Karachi Test as 'satisfactory', but parried a query if his showing made the player worthy of a recall in the ODI team.

The board chief also said he had apprised the International Cricket Council of some "practical problems" in organising the Champions' Trophy matches in Delhi and Mumbai.